He Says, She Says: One Guy and One Girl Face Off About What Makes a Summer Sandal Cute

He Says, She Says: One Guy and One Girl Face Off About What Makes a Summer Sandal Cute

Bootie sandals

He says:If this girl wanted to borrow something from her grandma, she probably should have gone with the pearls. I love my grandma, but I wouldn’t exactly call her footwear choices sexy.

She says:While it may not be everyone’s favorite, you’ve got to admit that with all those straps, you’d never have to worry about your shoes flying off while bike-riding.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Spring 2009

High black ankle-strap heels

He says:Classic. Hot. Enough said.

She says:These are like the red nail polish of shoes—they’ll amp up the va-va-voom factor in seconds.

Martin Grant, Spring 2009

Gladiators

He says: These short versions scream summer to me—which is a good thing. But those tall, knee-high gladiators that some girls wear make me think they’re going to fight to the death in the Colosseum.

She says: A definite must. Just don’t wear ‘em with a drapey Grecian dress unless you’re en route to a toga party.

Model’s own sandals, backstage at Spring 2009 runway shows

Sparkly platforms

He says:I think the girl wearing these shoes is definitely going to take a long time looking at her menu—and will probably end up getting a salad with no dressing anyway. Too high-maintenance.

She says: The see-through heel and iridescent straps make me think of glow-stick-sporting ravers. It’s not exactly a work-appropriate shoe, but it’s just the thing for an evening filled with umbrella-topped drinks.

Derek Lam, Spring 2009

Stilettos

He says: I definitely wouldn’t expect the girl wearing these shoes to walk very far, but I’m sure she wouldn’t have trouble finding a guy to give her a ride. I’ve never wanted a car more in my life.

She says: These are a podiatrist’s worst nightmare, and yet they’re the Achilles heel of, well, heels: Few can resist sexy stunners like these, but being able to walk in them easily—that is, without looking like you’re recovering from a twisted ankle—takes years of painful training.

Emanuel Ungaro, Spring 2009

Strappy platforms

He says: I didn’t know that electrical tape was the fabric of choice this season. Isn’t adhering a wooden sole to girl’s feet model-cruelty?

Wild sculptural heels

He says: The ones on the left remind me of a corset—and anything that reminds guys of lingerie is always a good look. The ones on the right kind of make me think of a straitjacket, and there’s something strangely hot about that, too. Sorry, Mom!

She says: Ask any die-hard fashion fanatic and chances are she’ll admit to having an addiction to sculptural shoes. But for most of us, wild museum-worthy heels usually wind up in the back of the closet, stored like pieces of art.